The Canadian Cancer Society encourages governments across Canada to adopt public policies that will prevent cancer and help people living with cancer.
Read about some recent advocacy successes below.
Support for Canada’s family caregivers
Family caregivers are the backbone of our healthcare system, providing unpaid care estimated at over $25 billion for 2009. Most family caregivers have annual incomes of less than $45,000 and most are women. Family caregivers often become financially, physically and emotionally overwhelmed.
The Canadian Cancer Society has been advocating for better support for caregivers for more than 10 years and has called for a national caregivers strategy.
Our targeted political advocacy efforts have had significant success, including these actions by the federal government:
- January 2009 –passed the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, allowing self-employed workers to receive compassionate care benefits if they pay into the Employment Insurance program
- February 2012 –announced the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, allowing caregivers to claim a caregiver amount on their tax return
- August 2012 –introduced a new Employment Insurance benefit for parents of critically ill children under 18 years old, allowing caregivers to claim up to 35 weeks of EI benefits
Moving forward
We will continue to work on minimizing financial burden and to ensure that all Canadians have access to the right care, in the right place, by the right person including good palliative care.
Asbestos
All forms of asbestos cause cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society has long called for all levels of Canadian government to adopt a comprehensive strategy addressing all aspects of asbestos.
We worked to make asbestos an election issue during the Quebec provincial election in summer 2012, and 3 out of 4 major parties promised to oppose the asbestos industry, if elected.
In September 2012, the newly elected provincial government in Quebec cancelled a loan guarantee to the asbestos industry. As a result of this action, the federal government announced it would no longer oppose including chrysotile asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention’s list of hazardous substances.
Moving forward
The Society is urging the federal government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to address all aspects of the asbestos issue, including:
- immediately setting a clear timetable for phasing out the use and export of asbestos
- implementing a national surveillance system to track health outcomes of people who have been exposed to asbestos
- creating a public registry of buildings that contain asbestos
- providing transition support for affected communities
- including chrysotile on the Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent list
Tobacco control
The Canadian Cancer Society has been at the forefront of tobacco control advocacy for decades. We campaigned to ban smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces across the country and in recent years we’ve lobbied the federal government to protect the public through:
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Graphic warnings on cigarette packaging: In 2000, Canada was the first country to require picture warnings on tobacco packages, with regulations taking effect in 2001. There are now close to 50 countries/jurisdictions that have followed the Canadian model. The pictures graphically show the effects of cancer and tobacco smoking, including colour photographs of cancerous lungs and diseased mouths.
The Society released a study in January 2002 that showed the effectiveness of the graphic warnings.
In September 2011, the warnings would be increased in size to cover 75% of the package front and back and now include a toll-free quit line number for smokers to call who want assistance in quitting. In many provinces, the quitline service is provided through the Society’s Smokers’ Helpline.
- Ban of flavoured tobacco products: In June 2008, after a survey suggested that a high number of teens were experimenting with cigarillos, the Society called for a ban of flavoured tobacco products and met with government representatives to persuade them to take action against this dangerous marketing tactic.
In October 2009, the federal government passed legislation making it illegal to sell flavoured cigarettes, cigars and blunt wraps in Canada.
Saskatchewan success stories
Asbestos achievements
All forms of asbestos cause cancer. Saskatchewan is the first province with a mandatory registry of public buildings that contain asbestos.
On April 18, 2013, the Saskatchewan government unanimously passed bill 604 (Howard’s Law) after months of advocacy by the Canadian Cancer Society and its partners. Originally the provincial government announced that it would set up a voluntary asbestos registry which health groups believed was inadequate.
The Canadian Cancer Society partnered with the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the Lung Association of Saskatchewan, unions and emergency response groups, to educate the public about the danger of asbestos and the need for a mandatory public registry. In February 2013, we created an online petition that received more than 1200 signatures in just 3 weeks.
On April 17, 2013 the Society presented to the Human Services Committee reviewing Howard’s Law, one of only 3 organizations invited to do so.
Tobacco control achievements
- In April 2013, youth leaders from Saskatchewan and the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, the Lung Association of Saskatchewan and the Tobacco Coalition for Tobacco Control held an education session for MLA’s on flavored tobacco.
- In March 2013 the government increased tobacco taxes by 4 cents per cigarette or $1 for a pack of 25 cigarettes.
- In 2010 the government released a provincial tobacco control strategy and 3 year funding commitment ending March 31, 2012.
- In May 2010, the provincial government adopted the Tobacco Tax Amendment Act which limited the quantity of tax-exempt tobacco that a First Nations person could purchase per week.
- In 2010 the government changed The Tobacco Control Amendment Act, 2010 and included a number of measures including: prohibiting smoking in cars carrying children, banning tobacco sales in pharmacies, banning tobacco on school grounds.
In March 2010 the provincial government increased tobacco taxes for the first time since 2004.
- In October 2009 the Society released a study to support our action that calculated the cost of tobacco in Saskatchewan.
- At Relay For Life events across the province, we organized a postcard campaign to support banning smoking in vehicles carrying children.
- In January 2009, the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan issued 8 Prescriptions for Health to educate politicians about the need for a strategy to reduce our high smoking rates.
- In April 2008, the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan released an Ipsos Reid poll asking about tobacco and other cancer-related issues. The results indicate strong support from people in Saskatchewan for measures to reduce tobacco use, including banning smoking in vehicles carrying children, restricting tobacco sales in pharmacies and banning tobacco on school property.
- In partnership with the Heart and Stroke foundation, we developed an online tobacco toolkit to help schools and communities develop tobacco-free policies.
Cosmetic pesticide ban achievements
- On March 7, 2013 the Canadian Cancer Society made a presentation to the Public Works Committee of the City of Regina. The City decided to keep the 3 pesticide free parks and add 80 herbicide free parks towards reducing the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
- In 2012, the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan started a gardening blog called Leading the way to a greener Saskatchewan.
- Also in 2012, the Canadian Cancer Society presented to the Environmental Committee of the City of Regina and the Public Works Committee on the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
- In 2011, Society representatives presented to the City of Regina on the harmful effects of using pesticides for cosmetic purposes and provided an overview of what was happening in Canada on this issue. In May, 2011 the City of Regina agreed to declare 3 parks in Regina as ‘pesticide free’.
- In 2009 and 2012, Society representatives surveyed municipal candidates for upcoming elections on their position on cosmetic use of pesticides. We used the information from the survey results to educate new mayors and councilors on the harmful effects of pesticides when used for cosmetic purposes.
- In 2011, the Canadian Society in Saskatchewan launched created a new advocacy to action website to help the public understand our issues. The website provides avenues for those interested in specific topics to take various actions to help move the issue forward.
- In 2009 and 2011, Society representatives met with the Provincial Medical Health Officer to discuss our position on pesticide use for cosmetic purposes.
- In 2008 and 2009, Society representatives met with politicians and members of the Saskatchewan Government to discuss the results of the Ipsos Reid poll, and to educate officials on the harmful effects of environmental carcinogens.
- In 2008 the Canadian Cancer Society’s in Saskatchewan hired Ipsos Reid to carry out a survey to 900 Saskatchewan residents in the areas of tobacco, cosmetic use of pesticides and community right to know. The results clearly show that people know pesticides may be harmful. Two-thirds support a ban on pesticides; nearly 90% wanted to know how about alternatives to pesticides so they could reduce their risk. The poll results overwhelmingly supported the need for people to have the information so they can make informed decisions about their health. Read more on our survey here.